First appointment date for Gynaecologist, but should I have asked for a BSGE specialist?

[rh1984]

Hi,

I have recently moved to Wales from Australia. I was previously seeing a specialist and I have tried numerous hormone treatments, drugs etc. She was a not a surgeon and as I did not have private health was referred to the public hospital system for a laparoscopy (lonnnnng wait times, no appointment was set before I moved). I have seen a local GP here in Wales and she has referred me to Shrewsbury Hospital for a Gynaecologist appointment, which is coming up in November. However having done some research, I don't know if I should have asked to be referred to a BSGE centre? I have issues with bowel and bladder symptoms and under the NICE guidelines anyone with suspected bowel/bladder symptoms should be referred to a specialist endometriosis service. Am I wasting mine, and the gynaecologists time by attending my appointment in November? should I ask for a different referral to a BSGE centre? I am concerned that if there is endo found on my bladder/bowels and they are not specialised in endo that I may end up needing another surgery or worse receiving damage or insufficient excision. Being referred to a BSGE centre may be difficult as I live in Mid Wales, the only two centres near me are Birmingham and Chester.

Thank you for any advice!

[Meg108]

Hi rh,

I'm very new to this (about to go to GP for first time tomorrow about the possibility of endo), so I don't have any experience to offer I'm afraid, but just reading your post, it occurs to me that it might be a good idea to go back to your GP (if they are sympathetic?), explain what you've said here and what you've found out during research about the recommendations for anyone with bladder and bowel issues, and see if they can get the ball rolling for a centre referral? It's your health and it's important!

In the meantime as November is far off it probably wouldn't hurt to see the gynae too, you never know you may get some interesting information or a new perspective, and if you're unsure about any of their suggestions you could either delay or decide not to go further with them.

That's just my thoughts anyway!

Really good luck with it all xxx

[rh1984 in reply to Meg108]

Thank you for listening, sorry for the late reply. I'm going to attend the appointment and ask all my questions. If I'm not happy with the answers then I'll def head back to the GP to get the ball rolling on a BSGE referral. Dreading explaining everything to someone new again!

[rh1984 in reply to Meg108]

Thank you for listening, sorry for the late reply. I'm going to attend the appointment and ask all my questions and if I am not happy then I will ask the GP to get the ball rolling on a BSGE referral. Dreading explaining everything to someone new again as you never know if you'll get someone understanding or not!

[rh1984 in reply to rh1984]

Sorry for 2 responses it said it didn't work!